May 30, 2007 The full extent of just what robots can do for humans is still unfolding, but with the Japanese robotics industry fully aware of the opportunities for caring for the world’s aging population, it’s fair to say that carer and companion robots will be one of the first commercial thrusts. Now a new project at the University of Hertfordshire (U.K.) is using robots to help children with developmental or cognitive impairments to interact more effectively.